Refrigeration system valve



June 6, 1967 J. C- CROWTHER REFRIGERATION SYSTEM VALVE Filed Aug. 5,1965 FIG. I

IEE/

INVENTOR.

CROWTHER.

ATTORNEY.

JOSEPH C.

United States Patent 3,323,583 REFRIGERATHUN SYSTEM VALVE Joseph C.Crowther, Liucolnwood', Ill, assignor to (farrier Corporation, Syracuse,N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 299,723 1Claim. (Cl. 165-50) This invention relates to air conditioning systems,and more particularly to a valve mechanism for use with air conditioningsystems of the type adapted to selectively heat or cool.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improvedthree-way valve mechanism which is inexpensive to manufacture and easyto assemble and repair.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved valveconstruction for regulating fiow of hot and cold conditioning mediumwithout intermixing thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve mechanismfor controlling the communication and rate of flow of separated heatexchange mediums to a heat exchanger.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved valve apparatus adapted for use with an air conditioningsystem.

This invention relates to a valve comprising a housing having acompartment therein and a discharge opening in communication therewith,piston-like members each having an opening therein slidably disposed inthe compartment on opposite sides of the discharge opening; means forlimiting movement of each of the slidable members toward the dischargeopening, a valve element in the compartment :between the slidablemembers for closing each of the slidable member openings, means forbiasing each of the slidable members into engagement with the valveelement to close each of the openings, the housing having a first inletopening spaced from one of the slidable members in communication withthe compartment and a second inlet opening spaced from the other of theslidable members in communication with the compartment, and means formoving the valve element toward and away from the first and second inletopenings whereby movement of the valve element toward the first inletopening communicates the second inlet opening with the dischargeopening, while movement of the valve element toward the second inletopening communicates the first inlet opening with the discharge opening.

This invention further relates to an air conditioning system for use ina building having a plurality of zones including a central stationadapted to condition air to be supplied to the zones, at least one heatexchanger in each zone, and means adapted to supply hot and coldconditioning medium to each heat exchanger including a valve having afirst chamber in communication with the source of cold conditioningmedium, and a second chamber in communication with a source of hotconditioning medium, a discharge line communicating the valve with theheat exchanger, adjacent walls of each of the first and second valvechambers being movable in an axial direction toward and away from oneanother,

3,323,583 Patented June 6, 1967 each of the walls having an openingtherein adapted to communicate with the discharge line, closure meansdisposed between the movable walls for interrupting the wall openings,means biasing each of the movable walls into engagement with the closuremeans whereby flow of hot and cold conditioning medium from the firstand second chambers respectively is prevented, means for selectivelymoving the closure means in an axial direction toward and away from thefirst and second chambers, and stop means for limiting movement of thefirst and second chamber movable walls respectively so thatpredetermined movement of the closure means toward the first chamberestablishes predetermined flow of hot conditioning medium from thesecond chamber through the discharge line into the heat exchanger, whilepredetermined movement of the closure means toward the second chamberestablishes predetermined flow of cold conditioning medium through thedischarge line into the heat exchanger.

Other objects will be apparent from the explanation presentedhereinafter when read in the light of the ac companying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of an air conditioning system embodyingthe present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of applicants novel valvemechanism.

In the description that follows, like numerals designate like elementsin each of the views of the drawing. Referring to FIGURE 1 of theattached drawing, there is shown an air conditioning system of theinduction type embodying the present invention. The air conditioningsystem comprises a central station 10* having filter 14, preheating coil15, spray attachment 16, cooling coil 17, reheating coil 18, and fan 19.Dampers 12 communicate central station it] with a source of ambient airto be conditioned. In operation, a fan 19 draws ambient air through thedampers 12 into the central station 10 wherein the air is treatedanddischarged as a source of primary air through the riser 23 and runouts24 to the room unit or units 25 placed in the areas or zones 26 beingconditioned.

A refrigerating machine 28 is provided to furnish cold conditioningmedium through the cold medium supply line 29 to each of the room unites25. Pump 30 in the cold medium supply line 29 draws the cold medium fromthe refrigerating machine 28 and forwards the same to the individualunits 25. p

A heating station 33 is provided to supply hot conditioning mediumthrough the hot medium supply line 34 to each of the room units 25. Pump35 in hot medium supply line 34 draws the hot medium from the heatingstation 33 and forwards the same to each of the individual room units25. Water is the preferred medium; however, other fluids, for example, asolution of water and glycol alcohol may be used as will be apparent topersons skilled in the art.

The hot and cold conditioning medium returns from each of the room units25 through a common return line 37 which communicates with branch line38 connected to the refrigerating machine 28 and with branch line 39connected to the heating station 33. An automatic diverting valve 40 maybe provided to direct return conditioing medium to either line 39 orline 40 or to direct conditioning medium to both lines 39, 40. Whereused, diverting valve 40 directs return conditioning medium above apredetermined temperature, for example, 72 E. into line 39 for return tothe heating station 33 and return conditioning medium below thepredetermined temperature into line 38 for return to the refrigeratingmachine 28.

The piping arrangement heretofore described is of the type commonlyreferred to as the three-pipe system. In that type of arrangement, onepipe supplies hot conditioning medium to the room heat exchanger units,a second pipe supplies cold conditioning medium to the room heatexchange units, and a third pipe returns conditioning medium from eachof the room heat exchanger units to the source of supply. By this means,both hot and cold conditioning medium are available at each room unit.

The cold and hot conditioning medium lines 29, 34 communicate with theroom unit 25 through control valve 45 operable to regulate the flow ofcold and hot conditioning medium to the room unit. A pair of lines 46,47 communicate control valve 45 with the cold and hot conditioningmedium lines 29, 34 respectively. Discharge line 48 communicates controlvalve 45 with the room unit 25.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 2 of the drawing wherein control valve45 is shown in detail, valve 45 comprises a generally cylindrical memberhaving a bore 51 therethrough. A portion of bore 51 is reduced at 52 todefine stop surfaces 53, 54. Piston-like valve seats 55, 56 having anouter dimension slightly less than the inner dimension of bore 51 arepositioned for slidable movement in bore 51. Adjacent ends of valveseats 55, 56 are reduced at 57, 58 respectively for entry in reducedbore portion 52. Movement of valve seats 55, 56 toward each other islimited by the abutment of valve seat stop surfaces 60, 61 respectivelywith valve member stop surfaces 53, 54 respectively. Spring means 64, 65bias seats 55, 56 toward one another. Suitable sealing means areprovided between the periphery of valve seats 55, 56 and the surface ofvalve bore 51 to prevent the passage of conditioning mediumtherebetween.

Cylindrical end caps 66, 67 are suitably attached to valve member 45 asfor example by cooperating threaded means 68. End cap 66 is providedwith a suitable opening 70 therethrough having a threaded portion 71.Hot conditioning medium line 47 communicates with valve body bore 51between end cap 66 and valve seat 55. Cold conditioning medium line 46communicates with valve body bore 51 between end cap 67 and valve seat56. Discharge line 48 in communication with room unit 25 communicateswith the reduced part 52 of bore 51.

Valve seats 55, 56 each have a coaxial opening 77, 78 respectivelytherethrough adapted to communicate upper and lower parts of the valvebody bore 51 with discharge line 48. Valve seats 55, 56 are tapered at79, 86 respectively. A generally cylindrical valve element 82 ispositioned in reduced portion 52 of bore 51 between valve seats 55, 56.Valve element 82 has opposite ends tapered at 84, 85 adapted in a mannerto be more fully explained hereinafter to tightly abut the tapered parts79, 80 of seats 55, 56 respectively to interrupt the passage ofconditioning medium through openings 77, 78 respectively.

Valve element 82 is fixedly attached to movable steam 90. Stem 90extends through opening 70 in end cap 66 and is provided with a threadedportion 91 in operative engagement with threaded portion 71 of end cap66 whereby movement of stem 90 causes movement of valve element 82 in anaxial direction. Handle 93 may be fixedly attached to shaft 90 to effectmovement thereof. Suitable sealing means 94 is provided to prevent theflow or seepage of conditioning medium between stem 90 and opening 70 inend cap 66. A retainer 92 may be provided for sealing means 94. Stem 90is provided with stop 95 to limit axial movement thereof in an upwarddirection as viewed in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. Stop 95 is adapted tocontact end cap 66 upon predetermined axial movement of stem 90. Axialmovement of stem 90 in a downward direction is limited by stop 96fixedly positioned in valve body 50, stop 96 limiting downward movementof valve seat 56 which in turn limits downward movement of stem 90.

With Valve element 82 positioned as shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawingsthe control valve is closed. Flow of cold or hot conditioning mediumfrom lines 46, 47 respectively through the control valve 45 intodischarge line 43 is interrupted by abutment of valve element surfaces84, 85 with valve seat surfaces 79, respectively.

Movement of stem 90 in a counter-clockwise direction as shown by thesolid line arrows in FIGURE 2 of the drawing causes valve element 82 tomove in an upward direction through cooperating threaded means 71, 91.Up ward movement of valve element 82 moves valve seat 55 upwardlyagainst biasing means 64. The upward movement of valve element 82;raises valve surface from valve seat surface 80 to initiate flow of coldconditioning medium from line 46 into discharge line 48. Upward movementof valve seat 56 is prevented through the abutment of stop surfaces 61,54. The rate of flow of cold conditioning medium into discharge line 48is regulated by the degree of realtive movement between valve element 82and seat 56. Communication of the hot conditioning medium line withdischarge line 43 remains interrupted.

Movement of stem in a clockwise direction as shown by the dotted linearrows in FIGURE 2 of the drawing moves valve element 82 in a downwarddirection. Downward movement of valve element 82 moves valve seat 56downwardly against biasing means 65 to prevent the flow of coldconditioning medium from line 46 to discharge line 48 through the valve.Downward movement of valve element 82 separates valve surface 84 fromvalve seat surface 79 to initiate the flow of hot conditioning mediumfrom line 47 through the valve into discharge line 48. The rate of flowof hot conditioning medium from line 47 through the valve into dischargeline 48 is regulated by the degree of relative movement between valveelement 82 and seat 55, it being understood that movement of valve seat55 is prevented through the abutment of stop surface 53, with stop 60.

The present invention provides a unique control valve constructionoperable to selectively regulate the fiow of either hot or coldconditioning medium to a heat exchange apparatus; a control valveconstruction that prevents mixing of hot and cold conditioning medium inall degrees of valve adjustment.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it willbe understood that the invention is not limited thereto since it may beotherwise embodied within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

In an air conditioning system for a multizone building, which requiresheating and cooling, the combination of a central station, means forsupplying conditioned air from said central station to each zone to betreated, at least one heat exchanger in each zone, means for supplyinghot and cold conditioning medium to said heat exchanger including avalve having a first chamber in communication with a source of hotconditioning medium and a second chamber in communication with a sourceof cold conditioning medium, a discharge line communicating said valvewith the heat exchanger, each of said first and second chambers havingan adjacent wall movable in an axial direction toward and away from oneanother, each of said walls having an opening therein adapted tocommunicate with said discharge line, a closure means disposed betweensaid walls for interrupting said wall openings, means biasing saidchamber walls into engagement with said closure means whereby the flowof hot and cold conditioning medium from said first and second chambersrespectively into said discharge line is prevented, means forselectively moving said closure means in an axial direction toward andaway from said first and second chambers, and stop means for limitingmovement of said first and second chamber movable Walls toward eachother so that predetermined movement of said closure means toward saidfirst chamber establishes predetermined flow of cold conditioning medium5 from said second chamber through said discharge line into said heatexchange means while predetermined movement of said closure means towardsaid second chamber establishes predetermined flow of cold conditioningmedium through said discharge line into said heat exchanger.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,997,063 8/1961 Anderson eta1. 137-607 3,198,245 8/1965 Soling 165-22 FOREIGN PATENTS 594,280 3/1934 Germany.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES SUKALO, Examiner.

